Keep Calm and Carry On: The Diary of Foodie and Gourmet

I hope everyone enjoyed a lovely Memorial Day Weekend! I don't know about you, but the first half of the weekend was awful. It was cold, rainy, and miserable. Ugh. After weeks of gorgeous 60, 70, and even 80 F weather, suddenly, we were back to 40 F and freezing! Still, my family and I spent the weekend in upstate New York, at our cabin. Since I am still in school, I don't get to go up very often, but the cabin is truly a peaceful retreat. We are on top of a mountain, surrounded by 50 acres worth of forest. It's gorgeous. One of the main reasons why we came up this weekend, was to visit an antique fair. Apparently my mother is an avid antiquer, this was news to me, and had a burning desire to attend this. With no other major plans, the three of us hopped into the truck and made our way to the Dutchess County Fairground.  the entrance to the fair Now, I will be the first to admit, I am not big on antiques. I don't really enjoy antique shopping. Perhaps

Whilst upstate, my parents and I ventured into the town of Hudson for dinner. Hudson is popular spot for those escaping New York City for a bit. It's filled with antique shops and lots of little bistros. It's great! Over the past few months, my parents have started going to a cool new restaurant called "The Crimson Sparrow." According to my mom, it was recently named one of the best restaurants outside of New York City, and let me tell you, whoever said that was sooooo right!  The restaurant it really low key and yet trendy. The food is essentially nouveau American, with a twist. The dishes are tapas size, delicious, and creative! This is foodie heaven. I loved the blending of flavors and ingredients. Pretty much everything had me raising my eyebrows with skepticism, but then I tasted each dish and my taste buds lit up with delight! So did my belly. Definitely my new favorite restaurant. I can't wait to go back!!!  As per usual, the Snyders order a wi

After a morning of antique-ing, we spent the afternoon in Rhinebeck. Rhinebeck is an adorable little town about 30 minutes from our cabin. It was also the site of Chelsea Clinton's wedding a few years back. Rhinebeck is a popular weekend destination for "city folk", wanting to escape the craziness of New York City for a bit.  We have been in Rhinebeck a couple times, but mostly to eat, not explore. It was nice being able to take our time, stroll the streets, bop into stores, and enjoy what Rhinebeck has to offer. First stop, an antique store...of course! Apparently, my mother likes this store, so we spent some time here. By "we" of course, I mean dad and I stayed for a couple of minutes, and then left mom to shop on her own.  Whilst mom was shopping, dad and I went to the chocolate store next door. My parents have been telling me about this establishment for months, and as an avid chocolate fanatic, I was eager to try it! Apparently the owner and